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PurpleSubtlePlan OP t1_iu7binp wrote

Why force people to lie to get an absentee ballot? Why not just remove those restrictions?

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Kv603 t1_iu71jzw wrote

Isn't that the opposite of the issue usually raised?

States with later primaries and very permissive "early voting" have an issue where a voter casts an early ballot in advance of their state primary, comes to regret voting early when their vote is effectively "wasted" after the candidate they voted for drops out of the race before primary day.

E.g. Texas: https://www.npr.org/2020/03/03/811504560/candidates-withdrawals-raise-questions-about-early-voting

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WhoWhatWhereWhenHowY t1_iu6z9zl wrote

What makes NH early voting restrictive? Has it changed since the last election because I never found it difficult?

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one_way_ticketz t1_iu71gb6 wrote

It is restricted to the extent that it doesn't exist.

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WhoWhatWhereWhenHowY t1_iu71npo wrote

Absentee ballots? You can get them and vote early. Not super difficult.

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one_way_ticketz t1_iu71y27 wrote

Absentee ballots aren't universal like they were during covid.

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WhoWhatWhereWhenHowY t1_iu72ej6 wrote

I used them before covid as well and I never found them too difficult to get. Perhaps that has changed.

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one_way_ticketz t1_iu734hz wrote

You need a reason to vote absentee in NH. That reason can be work/childcare obligations during all of the hours when polling is open. So it is sort of loose if that can apply to you.

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RoadAdventures t1_iu7516x wrote

Feel free to ask for an absentee ballot if for whatever reason you want to vote ahead of time. Such reasons are never checked/enforced, so while technically we don't have early voting, practically we do.

This being said... I personally prefer to vote on voting day, so I can base my decision on all the information available.

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smartest_kobold t1_iu8krxa wrote

No, it's two separate stupid policies.

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Berzerk_Unit_Alpha t1_iu8n2vc wrote

This.

Two stupid policies that will always be there simply because that is the way it has always been done and any changes to anything at anytime is going to be met with stern resistance.

The irony of living in the live free or die state with the least free voting practices is hilarious.

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DeerFlyHater t1_iu75jtr wrote

"restrictive"?

If you're not going to be around on the election day, just ask for an absentee ballot. It's not in flight rocket surgery.

We're not a large enough state to do TX's silly multi week early voting thing.

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Berzerk_Unit_Alpha t1_iu8ngwp wrote

There is only one state in the country that does not allow early voting. New Hampshire.

Compared to other states this is a restriction.

Other states will have polls open for two weeks and you can come vote at a convenient time for you, or they mail you your ballot and send a voter information pamphlet with a half page bio on every candidate.

Having to fill out a form to ask permission to vote a certain way or only have a ten hour window on one day to vote is restrictive.

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YBMExile t1_iu962gs wrote

Early voting gets more people voting, which is a good thing. There’s no downside.

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DeerFlyHater t1_iu9k5dl wrote

The downside is the town has to administer it. This costs money.

It's not as simple as just dropping it off with the clerk as many towns don't have five day a week hours. The town I'm building a house in only opens the town hall for 11 hours a week.

'but we could get a drop box'. Unsecured ballot drop boxes are not a great idea, and while it is by no means as egregious as the idiot election conspiracy theory think, some shenanigans do happen.

Easiest is just get an absentee ballot. I can call my town clerk and ask her to mail me one for whatever made up or real reason and it will be in my PO Box the next day.

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YBMExile t1_iu9ss30 wrote

I think drop boxes are the way to go, for sure. It’s easy, convenient, not a huge economic burden. It works flawlessly in Massachusetts.

Full discosure: I’m a bistater. Resident of both MA and NH but vote in MA.

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